Orval "Doc" Durham, Sr.

Opelousas - Funeral services will be held for Orval "Doc" Lee Durham, Sr. at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 12, 2020, in the Skip Montet Chapel at Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas.  Father Mike DeBlanc will conduct the service with burial to follow at Bellevue Memorial Park in Opelousas, LA.  Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2020 in the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at 12:00 p.m.

Mr. Durham, age 82, a longtime resident of Opelousas, passed away on Friday, December 4, 2020, at Lafayette General Medical Center.

Orval graduated from Livonia High School in 1957 where he excelled in athletics and was a golden glove boxing champion.  In 1981, he opened Durham Inspection Services which is still operating today.  The company in which he championed the development of, supplies inspection services to the oil and gas industry, both domestically and abroad.  He then expanded these services to provide inspection to the alternative energy/wind turbine industry.

Orval enjoyed being outdoors, working in his vegetable garden and fishing.  He was well known for his joking around and entertaining family and friends.  His biggest joy was being around his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Burnette Eusey Durham; his sons, Orval Lee Durham, Jr. and wife, Angela Blackmon; Michael Durham, Sr. and wife, Jessica Olivier, David Durham and wife, Cathy Jo Ryder; his daughter, Angela Chandler and fiance', Kevin Chamberlin; his sisters, Nancy Durham Wiltz and husband, Alfred "Mac", Jane Durham Lacassin; his sister-in-law, Martha Whittingham Durham, Theresa Eusey Skrantz and many nieces and nephews.  He is also survived by his grandchildren, Brandon Durham, Myson Durham, Josh (Jeanna) Durham, Matthew Durham, Michael "Babe" (Blaire) Durham, Abigail Durham, Kaitlyn Durham, Jeremy (Dani) Chandler, LB (Dar) Chandler and Lori Chandler and Jay and his great-grandchildren, Leeland Durham, Presley Durham, Blaze Durham, Jameson Durham, Isla Rose Durham, LJ, Zeke and Savanna Chandler, Lauren and Lance Fleming and Robby and Alexis Lind.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill Durham and Ledabel Clark Durham; his grandparents, James Otto and Annie Amelia Yates Clark; his brother, Bobby Durham, his son-in-law, Larry Chandler, Sr. and his brothers-in-law, Sherby J. Skrantz and Alfred Lacassin.

Pallbearers will be Orval Lee Durham, Jr., Michael Durham, Sr., David Durham, Brandon Durham, Joshua Durham, Myson Durham, Michael "Babe" Durham and Leeland Durham. Honorary pallbearers will be Patrick Boudreaux, Chad Wiltz, Alfred "Mac" Wiltz, Tommy Durham, Robby Durham and Kevin Chamberlin.

Family and friends are invited to sign and view the online guestbook at www.lafondardoin.com.

LaFond-Ardoin Funeral Home, 2845 South Union Street, Opelousas, LA 70570, ( 337-942-2638 ) has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.